The article is just plain wrong and you would realize that if you actually read Torvalds responses, also the writer used old sources which in itself disqualifies the article. He tried it out, he did not like it...
Ask him today and he will say that he is using gnome as a main desktop.

There is a video from Finland where he is asked face to face what desktop he prefers, and he even explains why he do not use gnome. Search the mighty google or youtube and you shall find.